It asked pupils about e-cigs for the first time and found that more than one in five had tried them.

The figures, based on a survey of 6,173 pupils in 210 schools, showed only 3% had tried legal highs.

There have been consistent falls in the number of children taking up smoking.

In 2003, 42% of pupils had tried cigarettes at least once, but that figure now stands at 18% - the lowest since records began in 1982.

Crucially, the new Children and Families Act will make it an offence to sell e-cigarettes to children.Prof Kevin Fenton, Public Health England

The pupil survey, which was conducted by the NatCen Social Research and the National Foundation for Educational Research, shows the popularity of e-cigs in 2014.

The figures showed 22% had vaped at least once.

But the figures were far higher among smokers, with 89% of them trying e-cigs. The figure is just 11% for those who have never smoked.

Elizabeth Fuller, the research director at NatCen Social Research: "We see that young people are more likely to have tried an e-cigarette than a traditional cigarette.

"We can't be certain why this is so, but there are likely to be a number of reasons, including the novelty element, price, and the fact there are currently no restrictions on children under the age of 18 buying e-cigarettes."

However, the report said there was "little evidence of frequent use of e-cigarettes".

Only 3% reported occasional use and just 1% vaped at least once a week.

Prof Kevin Fenton, the director of health and wellbeing at Public Health England, said: "The continuing decline in under-18s smoking, drinking and drug use is encouraging.

"It is reassuring that regular use of e-cigarettes remains low at 1%, and almost entirely among young people who have previously smoked tobacco.

"Crucially, the new Children and Families Act will make it an offence to sell e-cigarettes to children and will help address the number of young people trying e-cigarettes, while ensuring their continued use as a tool to help adult smokers to quit."

Deborah Arnott, the chief executive of the anti-smoking charity ASH, said: "These results do not support the idea that experimentation with electronic cigarettes is a gateway into smoking as the number of young people trying smoking continues to decline year on year."